Anyone who’s ever played a Pokémon game probably has one question. Why are some of the gym leaders so dang weak? In Pokémon Sword and Shield, just like in the other mainline Pokémon games, players battle 8 gyms on their way to compete in the Pokémon League. And just like the other Pokémon games, some of the gym leaders have level 15, 20, or 30 Pokémon.
While Sword and Shield do a better job explaining why some gym leaders use weaker Pokémon through the idea of a gym league challenge, the idea of a trainer with level 100 Pokémon battling against fully realized gym leaders sounds like the ultimate Pokémon challenge.
10 Gordie
Gordie is Pokémon Sword’s rock type gym leader of Circhester. During the main story, Gordie’s team is made up of a level 40 Barbacle, a level 40 Shuckle, a level 41 Stonjourner, and a level 42 Gigantamax Coalossal. Rock types are fairly plentiful in Sword and shield and so Gordie's team is easy to fill out with the best of the best. His ultimate team would consist of a Tyranitar, Aerodactyl, Omastar, Rhyperior, Lycanroc Dusk form, and a beefed-up Gigantamax Coalossal. This team covers its bases with a variety of secondary typings and solid attackers and defenders.
9 Opal
Opal is the fairy type gym leader of Ballonlea. When players fight Opal in the main story she uses a level 36 Galarian Weezing, a level 36 Mawile, and level 37 Togakiss, and a level 38 Gigantamax Alcremie. The best team Opal could use in Sword and Shield would be Clefable, Grimmsnarl, Azumarill, Klefki, Mimikyu, and a Gigantamax Hatterene. This team works well because of its dual usage of both physical and special attackers. Overall, this would be a fairly balanced team with some nice type coverage and a variety of usable Pokémon.
8 Kabu
Kabu is a bit of a pushover during the main story of Sword and Shield. His team is made up of a level 25 Ninetails, a level 25 Arcanine, and a level 27 Gigantamax Centiskorch. Fire types in Sword and Shield are somewhat limited, but that doesn’t mean Kabu’s ultimate team can’t pack a punch. His best combination of fire types would consist of Volcarona, Cinderace, Blaziken, Incineroar, Chandelure, and Talonflame. This team is all about attack and speed. This team will be a major challenge for any player who couldn’t withstand some terrible damage.
7 Piers
The dark type gym leader Piers has a special spot with his Obstagoon and rock band theme. His normal team is made up of a level 44 Scrafty, a level 45 Malamar, a level 45 Skuntank, and of course his level 46 Obstagoon. This team is bad to the bone, but it can definitely be worse… or better?
Anyways, Piers’ optimal team would use a Mandibuzz, Tyranitar, Krookodile, Bisharp, Gigantamax Grimmsnarl, and of course, his rockin’ Obstagoon. This team is a culmination of the heaviest hitters and best walls that the dark type Pokémon in the Galar region have to offer.
6 Melony
Gordie’s mother Melony is the ice type gym leader of Circhester in Pokémon Shield. Her standard gym challenge team consists of a level 40 Frosmoth, a level 40 Galarian Darmanitan, a level 41 Eiscue, and a level 42 Gigantamax Lapras. This team is alright, but it can certainly be improved. Keeping her Frosmoth, Darmanitan, and Gigantamax Lapras, but throwing in a Mamoswine, Weavile, and Alolan Ninetails really solidifies her line up. With Galarian Darmanitan’s ice and fire type zen mode ability, this ice team is really starting to heat up.
5 Bea
Pokémon Sword’s fighting type gym leader of Stow-on-Side, Bea, uses a level 34 Hitmontop, a level 34 Pangoro, a level 35 Sirfetch’d, and a level 36 Gigantamax Machamp. Her Machamp packs a punch, so it might stay for her ultimate team. The rest of her team would be made up of Kommo-0, Lucario, Blaziken, Hawlucha, and Bewear. This team sets Bea up to be a devastating physical attack machine. When one Pokémon faints, the next comes in stronger than the one before. It would take some serious defense to withstand her attacks.
4 Milo
When players first fight the grass type gym leader Milo, he uses a level 19 Gossifluer and a level 20 Eldegoss. Obviously, 2 Pokémon aren’t enough for a full team, so giving Milo the 6 best grass types in Galar will make him much more powerful. Milo’s ultimate team consists of Ferrothorn, Rillaboom, Whimsicott, Rotom Mow, Dhelmise, and a Gigantamax Flapple. This team makes the most of what Grass-type Pokémon have to offer. With Ferrothorn as the ultimate shield and Rillaboom as a monster attacker, this team is sure to be a challenge.
3 Nessa
The water type gym leader Nessa can be a challenge for players who aren’t prepared. With a level 22 Goldeen, a level 23 Arrokuda, and a monster level 24 Drednaw, Nessa is no joke in the early game. However, this team is certainly nothing serious to a master trainer.
Nessa’s best water type team would consist of Dracovish, Pelipper, Slowbro, Swampert, Toxapex, and Gigantamax Lapras. This team is built around the largely defensive power of Water-type Pokémon. Toxapex, Slowbro, Pelipper, and Lapras are all master stall and wall Pokémon, while Dracovish and Swampert are nasty attackers.
2 Allister
The ghost type gym leader in Pokémon Shield’s Stow-on-Side, Allister, uses a level 34 Galarian Yamask, a level 34 Mimikyu, a level 35 Cursola, and a level 36 Gigantamax Gengar. Allister’s ultimate team would consist of Dragapult, Aegislash, Mimikyu, Alolan Marowak, Gengar, and Decidueye. This team capitalizes on the versatility and surprises that ghost types have to offer. Dragapult and Decidueye are powerful attackers, while Aegislash acts as a powerful wall. To top it off, this ghoulish team will perfectly fit Allister’s mysterious personality.
1 Raihan
Raihan is the tricky dragon type gym leader that focuses more on weather conditions than actually sticking to his prescribed dragon type criteria. His team consists of a level 46 Gigalith, a level 47 Flygon, a level 46 Sandaconda, and a level 48 Gigantamax Duraludon. This team is more focused on using the sandstorm weather condition than actually using dragon types, so to make Raihan into his best self, that will need to be changed.
Raihan’s ultimate dragon team would be made up of Dracovish, Dragapult, Dragonite, Garchomp, Hydriegon, and Gigantamax Duraludon. This team is the top. Dracovish and Dragapult were two of the strongest Pokémon in Sword and Shield’s competitive scene when they first dropped and now with the release of the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra, Garchomp and Dragonite can be added to the list.